May 2007

10,000 Steps to a Healthier Heart

Have you heard the number 10,000 recently? What’s the significance? It is the number of steps cardiologists recommend the average person walk each day to improve health through cardiovascular exercise.

It’s a pretty simple workout: All you have to do is walk! But even the easiest form of exercise takes some motivation. Most people aren’t going to walk 10,000 steps by accident. It takes effort.

Employers searching for ways to keep employees healthy and ultimately reduce health costs should encourage staff to participate in a 10,000-step program. Working in teams or groups will improve an individual’s motivation to reach that magic number.

So where do you begin? Start by visiting www.thewalkingsite.com for information on the benefits of 10,000 steps. Then get sponsors, such as yourself or department heads, to order and distribute pedometers—inst ments that track the number of steps you take. These gizmos range from a couple of dollars for the basic model to $20 or more for advanced models. Then watch your staff enjoy tracking their steps on their way to better health. It’s that simple. What are you waiting for?